Apparatus for handling cylindrical objects and method of utilizing the same

摘要

An apparatus provides a means by which a heavy cylindrical object, such as a gas cylinder, may be manually moved by a single person from a vertical standing position in a first location to a second location and, if desired, raised and placed on a storage shelf or platform. The apparatus has clamping mechanism which clamps around the girth of the cylindrical object. Once the cylindrical object is secured within the clamping mechanism, a manual force applied to one end of the cylindrical causes the clamping mechanism and the cylindrical object to pivot, raising the bottom of the cylindrical object from the surface upon which it stands. The apparatus, having ground engaging wheels, may then be pushed to the second location.

主权项

1. A handling apparatus for handling cylindrical objects comprising:
a base having a front and a back, a first side member and a second side member in parallel disposition to the first side member, and a cross member spanning between the first side member and the second side member, the front comprising ground engaging front wheels and the back comprising ground engaging back wheels; a tube extending upwardly from the cross member, the tube having a first face; a handle member extending upwardly from the tube the handle member comprising a first rail and a second rail, with an opening defined between the first rail and the second rail; a slide bar having a portion thereof slidingly inserted into the tube, the slide bar further comprising an upward end extending outside of the tube, the slide bar having a second face; an engagement bracket pivotally attached to the upward end of the slide bar, the engagement bracket comprising an openable circular band with a manually operated closure wherein the openable circular band has an open position, in which the cylindrical object may be placed within the circular band, and the circular band has a closed position, in which the manually operated closure is actuated and the circular band circumferentially grasps the cylindrical object; wherein the engagement bracket is pivotal from a horizontal position to a non-horizontal position wherein, in the horizontal position, the circular band may receive the cylindrical object when the cylindrical object is standing in a vertical position upon a horizontal surface, and in the non-horizontal position, the cylindrical object is grasped within the circular band in the closed position and tilted away from the vertical position such that a portion of the cylindrical object is receivable within the opening defined between the first rail and the second rail; and a locking mechanism which selectively locks the slide bar into a locking engagement with the tube.